Officials are looking into whether the only person to climb Mount Everest this year used a helicopter in her ascent.

Credit:

Rdevany/Wikimedia Commons

Just one person has successfully reached the top of Mount Everest from the traditional Nepali side this year, after an accident took the lives of 16 Nepali Sherpa guides.

But that person, a Chinese woman named Wang Jing, may have used a helicopter in her climb — something considered cheating in the Everest climbing world. Nepali officials are investigating whether she used a helicopter to reach a camp at 6,400 meters (nearly 21,000 feet), past the part of the climb where the Sherpa guides were killed in April.

Normally, Nepali officials only allow helicopters above base camp at 5,400 meters in the event of an emergency. Daily Zone looks at the allegations.

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China puts Xinjiang separatists on trial — in a soccer stadium

China's government has, at times, used huge, public show trials as a way to discourage behavior it didn't like. The practice happened during the Cultural Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s, and during a crime crackdown in the 1990s. Now, China seems to be rolling out that tactic once again — for a major anti-terrorism crackdown in Xinjiang.

Fifty-five alleged separatists, mostly ethnic Uighurs, were put on trial en masse in a soccer stadium. As they stood in the back of military trucks, at least three were sentenced to death for their roles in various violent attacks. The BBC reports that local residents turned out to watch the trials — though it's not clear whether they were there voluntarily or were forced to attend.

Panamanians can't get enough of this chicken stew

Sancocho is basically Latin American chicken stew — but it's probably not like any chicken stew you've had before. It's that good. Many Latin American nations have their own versions of sancocho, but it is virtually the national dish of Panama. People eat it for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and even to cope with a hangover.

Norway's attempt at prostitution reform goes awry

Most countries that want to limit prostitution prosecuted and outlaw the sale of sex — basically making the prostitutes, usually women, criminals. But a few years ago, some Scandanavian countries decided to make it a crime to buy sex, at least in certain circumstances — making the johns, usually men, the criminals. The idea was to protect women from being pimped or trafficked.

While the laws have swept Europe, or some forms of them at least, those who work with prostitutes are sounding an alarm. They argue that the well-meaning measures are actually forcing prostitution underground and making prostitution less safe for women. The Independent looks at the impact of this new wave of prostitution laws.

Seven tips one researcher says will help you avoid breast cancer

Scientists have a hard time pinning down what exactly causes breast cancer, but they think it's a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It's hard to say with certainty what those environmental factors are. Now, new research points us in the general direction.

PRI's Living on Earth interviewed one of the scientists behind a new report, who put together seven tips that she says can help people minimize their risk of being exposed to breast cancer-causing carcinogens.

What we're seeing on social

Weather around the world

Weeks of ongoing torrential rains in China have exacted a heavy toll. At least 37 people are dead, six are missing and more than half a million people have been forced from their homes across southern China. According to the Associated Press, Hong Kong and the manufacturing-heavy Guangdong province have been especially hard-hit. More rain is on the way, too.

A previous version of this story incorrectly stated the elevation of the Everest base camp.

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